Podcaster: Dr Ed Rivera-Valentin
Title: Planetary Radar Astronomy: The Arecibo Story
Organization: The Society of Physics Students (SPS) at The University of Central Arkansas
Link : The Society of Physics Students (SPS) at The University of Central Arkansas
Description: On November 1, 1963, the Arecibo Observatory officially opened. Since then, we have expanded the frontiers of radar and radio astronomy with major discoveries such as ice at Mercury’s poles, the first detection of exoplanets, and confirmation of the existence of gravitational radiation, which earned the Nobel Prize in physics in 1993. Unlike in most astronomy, with radar the observer can control the signal used to illuminate the target. This ability has helped us reveal information from the depths of the martian crust to the surface of cloudy Venus. Because radar can very accurately resolve an object’s position in time and space, the Arecibo Observatory has played a pivotal role in observing near-Earth asteroids and assessing their potential impact hazard for Earth. From the mountaintops of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, the observatory stands as one of the first lines of defense for our planet. Here, I discuss the role the Arecibo Observatory has played throughout the years, focusing on planetary radar and its use in unraveling the mysteries of our Solar System. The Arecibo Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated by SRI International, USRA, and UMET. The planetary radar is funded through the NASA Near-Earth Object Observations program.
Bio: The Society of Physics Students (SPS) at The University of Central Arkansas is incorporates outreach, demonstrations, tutoring and guest speakers into our SPS Chapter.
Dr Ed Rivera-Valentin, staff at Planetary Scientist in Arecibo
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365 Days of Astronomy
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